The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1887-11-29


! of IN the text, is a captured well. David re-
/ nsnborad the time when that good water of
! bethlehem was in the possession of has auces-
tors. Ills father drank there. his mother
drank there lie remembered how the water
tasted when he was boy, and came up there
from play we never forget the old we'll we
used 10 drink out of when we were boys or
girls. There was something in it that blessed
the lips and refreshed the brow better than
anything We have found since. As we think
OF that dear old well, the memories
Of the past flow into each other
like crystalline drops, sun-glinted, and all the
more MS we remember that the hands that used
to lay hold the rope. and the hearts that beat
against the wc-curb are still now We never
get over these "reminiscences. George j. Nor
ris the great song-writer Of this country. once
said 90 me that his song, "Woodman, Spare
that Tree, was sung in great concert hall,
and tho memories OF early life so wrought
upon tho audience by that song that after the
singing was done, an aged man arose III the
audience, overwhelmed with emotion, and
said: "Sir, will you please TO tell me whether
the woo1man really spared the treeY" We
never forget the tree under which we played
We never forget the fountain at which we
drank. Alas for the man who has no early
memories!
David thought Of that well, that boyhood
well, and he wanted drink Of it, but he re-
membercd that the Philistines had captured
it. When those three men tried TO come
up 10 the we'll in behalf OF David, they saw
swords cleaning around about It, And this is
true Of this GOSPEL well. The Philistines have
at times captured it. When we come to take
full old-fashioned drink Of pardon and com
fort, do not their swords Of indignation and
sarcasm fash? Why, the skeptics tell us that
we cannot come to that fountain. They say
the water is not fit 10 drink anyhow. "If you
are really thirsty now, there is tho
well of philosophy, there, is the well
Of art, there is the well OF
science" They try to substitute, instead Of
our boyhood faith, a modern mixture. They
say great many beautiful things about the
soul, and they try to feed our immortal hunger
on rose leaves, and mix mint julep OF world
~ stmulants, when nothing viii satisfy ms
but "a drink Of the waters Of the well OF Beth
iJhcIn, which Is at the gate" They try TO
starye as on iusiSs, when the Fathers banquet
is ready, and the best ring is taken from the
caskct, and the sweetest harp is struck for
the music, and the swiftest foot is already lift
ed FOR the dance. They patronize heaven and
abolish hell, and try to measure
eternity with their hour-glass, and the throne
Of the great God with their yard-stick! | alb
hor il. tell you the old Gospel well is a cap
turcd well. | pray God that there may DO
somewhere in the elect host three Amounted
men, with courage enough to go forth i'll the
strength OF the omnipotent God with the gilt
tcring swords Of TRUTH to hcw the way back
again 20 that old well. think the tide is turn
ing, and that the old Gospel is to take its
place again in tho family, and in the univer-
sity, and in the legislative hall. Men have
tried worldly PHILOSOPHERS, and have found out
that they do not give any comfort, and that
they drop an arctic midnight upon
tho death pillow. They fail when there is a
comes to leap into the fathomless ocean Of
eternity, they give to the man not so much as
a broken spar TO cling to. Depend upon it,
that well viii come into orr possession again,
though it has been captured. If there be not
three anointed men in the Lords host with
enough conservation to do the work, then the
swords win leap from Jehoyahs bucklcr, and
the eternal three win desccnd-God the Faith
er God the Son, God the Holy Ghost--con-
quering, for our dying race the
way back again to "the water of
the well OF Bethlehom, which is by the gate"
'If God be for us, who can be against us?"
"If God spared not his own son, but freely
gave him up for us all. how shall he not with
him also freely give MS all things?" "Eor !
am persuaded that neither height, nor depth,
nor angels, nor principaities, nor powers, nor
things present, nor things to come" shall take
FROM us into final captivity, the Gospel of my
blessed Lord Jesus Christ.
Again, the Gospel we'll, like the one spoken
Of ii my text is a well at the gate. The tray
cler stops the camel today, and gets down and
dips out Of the valley Of tho east some very
beautiful clear, bright water, and that Is ont
of the very well that David longed for. DO
you know that that well was at the gate, so
that nobody could so into Bethlehem without
gong right past IL? And so it is with this
Gospel well-it is at the gate 1t is, in the first
place, at the gate of publication. We cannot
wash away our sins unless with that water. |
take the responsibility OF saying there is no
man, woman or child in this house today
that has escaped sinful deflement. DO
y0n say it is outrageous and ungallant for
me TO make such charger Do you say Il
have never stolen, have never blasphemcd |
have never committed unehastity, l have
never been guilty of murderY l reply, you
have committed sin worse than hlaSphemY,
worse than uuchaStity, worse than theft, worse
than murder. We have all committed it. We
haze by our sin recruciiied the Lord, and that
j. decided. Aud if there is anyone who dare
plead mot guilty to the indictment, then
the hosts OF heaven Will DO empaueled as a
jury to render 4 unanimous verdict against us
guilty one, guilty all. With what a slashing
STROKE that one passage cuts us away from
all our lrCteuSions. There is mono
that docth good-no, not one" ooh" says
some one, all we want, all the race wants, is
developments" Now | want 20 tell you that
the race develops without the Gospel into a
SoAom, u Five Points, great Salt Lake City.
Ii always develops downward and never up-
ward, except as the grace of God lays hold of
il. What then, is TO become of our soul with
out Christ? Rauishment Disaster. But |
bless my Lord Jesus Christ that there is well
at the gate Of publication. For great sin,
great pardon For eighty years of transgrcs-
sion. an eternity Of forgiveness For crime
deep rs hell. an atone mcnt high rs heaven;
that where sin abounded, so grace may much
moro gbouud; that rs SIN tCigucd unto DEATH
even SO may grace reign through righteousness
unto ctemal lie by Jesus Christ our Lord.
Angel OF the covenant, dip thy wing in this
living fountain today and wave il over this
solemn aS,enilugc, that our souls NAV be
washed i'm "tho water OF the wcllol Bethlehem,
which is by the gatc.'
Further, remark that this we'll of the Cos
pei IS at the gate Of comfort DO You know
whore David Was when he uttered the words
q f.t.t 49, ~ AZ A..N1